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Fixer (Journalism Aide)
In journalism, a fixer is someone, often a local journalist, hired by a foreign correspondent or a media company to help arrange a story. Fixers will most often act as a translator and guide, and will help to arrange local interviews that the correspondent would not otherwise have access to. They help to collect information for the story and sometimes play a crucial role in the final outcome. Fixers are rarely credited, and often put themselves in danger, especially in regimes where they might face consequences from an oppressive government for exposing iniquities the state may want to censor.

In terms of Modern Journalism, these aides often are the prime risk mitigators within a Journalists' team. The decisions made by these foreign correspondents are the difference between the life and death of the reporter. A powerful quote from seasoned Journalist Laurie Few dictates the sentiment with great articulation and clarity: “You don’t have time not to listen (to the fixer),” and anybody who disregards a fixer’s advice “is going to step on a landmine, figurative or actual." Throughout the last 20 years, fixers have ranged from civilians to local Journalists within the regions of conflict. As aforementioned, fixers are rarely credited and paid menially which has begun a conversation for the compensation rights of these individuals. According to statistics gathered from the Global Investigative Journalism Network, the base pay for a fixer's time ranged from $50-400 USD per day.

Examples in Journalism
Acquitté Kisembe - Agence France-Presse in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MIA since 2003)

Almigdad Mojalli - Independent Freelance Fixer/Journalist in Yemen (KIA 2016)

Bakhtiyar Haddad - Fixer for French Reporter Stephan Villeneuve (Both KIA 2014)

Zabihullah Tamanna - Translator for US National Public Radio in Afghanistan (KIA 2016)

Ajmal Naqshbandi - Journalist/Fixer in Afghanistan. Killed by Taliban. (KIA 2011)

Sayed Agha - Diver/Fixer in Afghanistan. Killed by Taliban. (KIA 2011)

Hazards
Alongside the dangerous work and menial pay, when interviewed, fixers working in the Middle East have been subjected to 'academic' prejudice from western media outlets. Regardless of the editorial experience of the fixer, many times the relationship between the Journalist and the aide is purely logistical. Only when specifically asked upon are the fixers granted editorial control. While many fixers are fine with this work relationship, others feel stigmatized due to conditions out of their control. Quotes gathered from anonymous, but internationally active fixers detail the painstaking process of gaining employment and rarely achieving credit for the work done and risk taken. Common themes within the discourse reveal hidden stereotypes that infiltrate the Media teams. Stories of being pushed aside on editorial concerns due to their 'brown skin' was frequent.

Demographic
According to a plethora of publicly accessible research data, the general public is able to see a clear visual representation of data collected from various studies conducted on both fixers and their Journalist counterparts. Gathered from the Global Reporting Centre, the survey demographic map had 132 respondents from North America, 101 from Europe, 23 from South America, Africa and Eurasia, 63 from Asia and 9 from Australia. Totaling over 70 different countries, the data collected on behalf of the GRC has been invaluable to understanding the underlying work conditions within the industry.